Following weekend massacre of 29 students and a teacher in Yobe State by Islamist terrorists, the state government, yesterday, ordered closure of all secondary schools. This came as President Goodluck Jonathan; Senate President David Mark and other eminent Nigerians condemned the killings, describing it as barbaric.
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force, JTF, has embarked on aggressive patrol, cordon and search of the state. Consequently soldiers have been deployed to the streets in a massive manhunt for the killers.
Reacting to the massacre of the students, Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, yesterday, in a statement “directed that all secondary schools in the state be closed down from Monday July 8, 2013 (today) until a new academic session begins in September.”
The state government also called on the military to restore mobile phone service, saying it was preventing residents from reporting suspicious activities.
The attack early Saturday in the Mamudo district saw assailants — believed to be Boko Haram Islamists — round up students and staff in a dormitory before throwing explosives inside and opening fire, said Haliru Aliyu of Potiskum General Hospital, quoting witnesses who escaped.
It was the third school attack in the region in recent weeks; and second in Yobe.
The military cut phone services in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states when troops were deployed to the three states to flush out Boko Haram sect members following declaration of emergency in the states. Satellite phones have also been banned, with the military saying insurgents use them to plan attacks..
Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade disclosed in a phone chat with Vanguard that the troops embarked on the cordon and search approach to track down perpetrators of the crime.
While noting that increased security measures have been adopted to forestall any recurrence of what happened last Saturday, Olukolade said that troops are on 24 hours patrol, cordon and search to ensure that such evil act does not happen again
Vanguard was told that prior to the killings, Yobe State had not experienced such acts to warrant what happened at the Government Secondary school. He added that the security agencies are on top of the situation.
On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal described the Yobe killing by unknown gunmen as ignoble, wicked and horrendous.
Jonathan condemns killings
President Goodluck Jonathan has described as wicked, horrific and barbaric the killing of over 30 students and a teacher at Government Secondary School in Mamudo village, Yobe State saying the attack was an indication that the war on terror is far from over.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said while the President sympathised with the affected families, he remained committed to routing out terrorists wherever they may be in the country.
President Jonathan said the war on terror was still very much on and his government will not be undermined by any group or persons.
“The killing is barbaric, completely wicked. Anybody who will target innocent children for any kind of grief or emotional dysfunction will certainly go to hell,” Dr Abati quoted the President as saying.
He added: “Mr. President wants to assure Nigerians that these desperate Nigerians will be flushed out of the system.
“Mr. President is committed to the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians and he wants to assure that the war against terrorists has been launched and will continue and the Nigerian government is determined to put an end to this menace.
“The President sympathises with the families affected and he stands by them at this moment of grief. The killing is most unfortunate, most regrettable, and Mr. President wants to assure Nigerians that any attempt by any group to undermine this government will be resisted” he said.
Tambuwal tasks security forces
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal in a statement issued in Abuja at the weekend by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, tasked security agencies to fish out perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice.
He declared that no reason can be given to justify such dreadful act, pointing out that the gains recorded by security agencies in their battle against terror in the country in recent weeks should be built upon in order to protect the citizens at all times.
Sympathising with families of the victims, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be more vigilant and to help security agencies with useful information to secure their areas.
Let’s protect our children — Mark
Senate President David Mark, yesterday, also condemned the gruesome killings, describing the act as barbaric.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Senator Mark said: “Even in war situations, children and women are protected. Killing children is akin to cutting down the future of a people. This is inhuman, barbaric and unacceptable to any right thinking member of the society.
“For no reason, the lives of these promising children were needlessly cut down by the heartless people. This cannot be a way of life. Enough of these bloodshed”.
Mark quoted from the Holy Bible to drive home his point that children deserve the protection and care no matter the circumstances.
Specifically, he said Mathew 18 : 10 states: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my father which is in heaven while Mark 9:42 added “and whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a milestone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea”.
Senator Mark assured that the National Assembly would continue to give priority attention to appropriation to the security operatives to carry out their duties without hitches.
EU condemns attack
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Sunday condemned “in the strongest possible terms the horrific murder by terrorists of some 30 innocent children and a teacher” early on Saturday morning in a school in Mamudo town in northeastern Nigeria.
“I express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims, and assure the people of Nigeria of my solidarity and determination to help them bring security, peace and reconciliation to the north,” she said in a statement yesterday.
